Leon Schuster: “Mama Jack Was Racist”

Leon Schuster is undoubtedly South Africa’s big screen king. The actor boasts an impressive array of films which sit firmly in the list of South Africa’s biggest box office rakings. However, as the star begins promotion on his upcoming film ‘Frank & Fearless’, he addresses the rumours and concerns which will prevent him from creating a sequel to ‘Mama Jack’ – one of his most successful films.

While Schuster is itching to bring a second film to life, fans have asked him to put the character to bed – and he believes his fans have a point. “I’m so sorry that I can’t make Mama Jack 2. If I had a dream come true, my next movie would be Mama Jack 2. But especially on Twitter they said stay away from the blackface, it’s not on,” the actor said in a recent interview. “It was black people talking to me and you’ve got to listen. I can’t do it because I’ll be heavily criticised. In the olden days it troubled nobody. But I won’t go blackface now, I can’t do it. There’s not one actor in the world that will. It’s just racist.”

Schuster has some regrets about profiting from blackface and understands that in today’s society, the act is incredibly racist and disrespectful. While Schuster has promised not to appear in blackface as not to offend his black fans, the star has revealed that he will still play in and around the Cape coloureds stereotypes. “Cape coloureds have got a very, very good sense of humour,” Leon says as he explains his comment. “The way they speak, the way they sing. They’ve just got a fantastic sense of humour. I’ve never had a coloured guy who turned around and said: ‘You’re not going to use me.’ I used them for their colourful language. That’s the reason. They speak an Afrikaans which is soos ‘n engel wat op my oor piepie [like an angel peeing on my ear]. I love the coloureds.”

‘Frank & Fearless’ opens in cinemas around the country on 23 November.